Baltimore jobs : Innovation + Job News

With April 1, 2010's Census Day fast approaching,  Census Bureau Regional Director Fernando Armstrong, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Barbara Mikulski and other leaders officially opened the doors of the Baltimore East local census office as operations and awareness about the 2010 count kick into high gear. The new office at 250 S. President Street will support field operations in the eastern portion of the City and employ as many as 1,400 local residents for the 2010 Census.

"The success of the 2010 census and Maryland's position in securing federal funding for programs such as education, health care, highways, workforce development, housing and energy, depend largely on the opening of Census offices that are essential in ensuring an accurate count of every Maryland resident," says Gov. O'Malley. "Today, we celebrate the opening of the 2010 Census Office in East Baltimore, and the creation of up to 1,400 jobs for our hardworking families. We encourage every Marylander to stand up and be counted."

As an extension of the census awareness campaign, the regional 2010 road tour vehicle, "The Constitution," made its first stop in Maryland at the grand opening celebration. The exhibits on the vehicle allow residents wherever the bus goes to learn more about the upcoming census in a creative and interactive way. The road tour will travel throughout the region to encourage participation in the upcoming census by reaching out to historically hard-to-count audiences.

"This is our last push to get folks on board and start talking about the 2010 census," says Fernando Armstrong, Philadelphia Regional Census Director. "Our partners in this community are great ambassadors and we appreciate their efforts to help us increase the mail-back response rate in Baltimore.

The 10-question census form will arrive in mailboxes beginning March 15. The 2010 form is one of the shortest forms in history and should take on average about 10 minutes to fill out. The form asks for name, gender, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether you own or rent your home.

"Everyone counts and everyone must be counted," says Sen. Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Census. "I've stood sentry to make sure we're ready this year to meet our Constitutional obligation for a timely and accurate count. The Census will help determine where to build new schools, libraries, new roads and bridges and new police and fire stations. That's why it's so important we count everyone in Maryland from East Baltimore to the Eastern Shore."

The Census Bureau is hiring thousands of temporary workers as this is the largest domestic undertaking the nation undertakes. The Baltimore East local census office is recruiting and testing applicants now for census taker positions. Census takers are needed for the non-response follow up operation to visit households that did not return their questionnaire. Applicants can call 1-866-861-2010 for more information on how to apply or visit www.2010census.gov for more information.

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States. By law, everyone in the United States, both citizens and noncitizens, must be counted every 10 years. Census data determines how more than $400 billion in federal funding is allocated each year to local, state and tribal governments. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest census questionnaires in history and takes about 10 minutes to complete. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Parks & People Foundation is hiring! Made possible through an 18 month funding grant gratis of the Fed's stimulus Act, the organization will create four "Green Up, Clean Up" Crews working in west and southwest Baltimore City as well as school and public housing sites throughout the city. Crew members will gain skills in the fields of environmental restoration and landscaping maintenance work, leading to potential green career opportunities.

Positions available include:

4 Team Leaders for crews of adult workers (hourly rate $11 to $13 plus benefits)

2 Team Leaders for crews of youth workers (hourly rate $11 to $13, no benefits)

16 Adult crew members ($8 to $11.75 plus benefits)
 
The positions are open to adults 18 years of age or older and able to lift 50 pounds. Crews work outdoors for 32 hours per week. Parks and People are looking to fill the positions immediately. To facilitate the hiring process, the organization is holding several recruitment events this week.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
1:00-3:00pm The Salvation Army Temple Corps Community Center 1601 W. Baltimore St. (intersection of W. Baltimore and Frederick Avenue) Baltimore, MD 21223
(accessible by #6, #10 and #20 MTA bus)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
1:00-3:00pm Fitch Company in Westport 2201 Russell St. (off of Annapolis Road near Rt. 295) Baltimore, MD 21230 (accessible by #27 and #51 MTA bus, and from the Westport light rail station)

Thursday, January 14, 2010
10:00am-12:00pm Pleasant View Gardens Community Center 201 N. Aisquith St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (accessible by #20, #23 and #40 MTA bus) 

Application will also be accepted via snail mail at the Parks & People Foundation, 800 Wyman Park Drive, Suite 010, Baltimore, MD 21211,  email at [email protected] or Fax: 410-448-5895 by January 15.

Source: Parks and People Foundation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Sheppard Pratt has received $725,000 from the federal government to administer a three-year statewide initiative to provide job training and support services to a total of 1500 low-income, mentally ill Marylanders.

The Workforce Development Initiative for the Mentally Ill uses evidenced-based practices to give individuals with mental illness the knowledge and skills they need to increase employment and decrease symptoms of mental illness. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of individuals with severe mental illness are employed, even though data suggests that 60 to 70 percent of those individuals want to work. Research shows that when these individuals receive evidence-based supported employment services 60 percent become competitively employed.

The federal monies complete the public-privat partnership launched to fund the initiative, which will also receive $6.4 million in funding from the State of Maryland and $1.7 million from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. The Weinberg grant was conditioned upon securing the final 8 percent, or $725,000, in funding from another source.

"For a number of years, I have known about the good work of Mosaic Community Services and our Sheppard Pratt Health System and what they have done for those with mental and intellectual challenges to have a way to a better life," says Senator Mikulski, who played a significant role in opening up the fed's wallet. "Now this cutting-edge workforce initiative will help people move into the workplace and find success there. The result is good for individuals receiving these services, good for employers and good for Maryland's economy."

Simply having a job has been shown to be an effective form of treatment, producing greater stability and decreasing mental illness symptoms among these individuals. This, in turn, helps reduce the need for more expensive publicly-funded mental health care, netting substantial savings for taxpayers. The workforce initiative also includes technical assistance to state and private healthcare agencies with the goal of project replication in other areas of the state and across the country.

"This project is the best example of a public-private partnership in the interest of helping individuals with disabilities become productive citizens," says Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System. "Sheppard Pratt, the State of Maryland, the Weinberg Foundation and now the Federal government have joined together in this state wide effort which will impact families, businesses and individuals and promote recovery from mental illness. Sheppard Pratt, a not-for profit comprehensive behavioral health care system, is proud to lead this initiative."

Source: Senator Barbara Mikulski
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Sen. Ben Cardin have scored $4.6 million in stimulus funding for job training in renewable and energy efficient industries in Maryland through the Department of Labor (DOL).

The grant has been awarded H-CAP, Inc to provide enhanced skills training to job seekers and entry-level environmental service workers for new and emerging green jobs in the healthcare industry. The project will operate in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Prince George's County in Maryland, as well as counties in New York, California and the District of Columbia.

"This funding is exactly what the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act is all about - creating and sustaining jobs today and preparing for the jobs of tomorrow," says Sen. Mikulski. "This grant will give Marylanders the opportunity to get the training they need to find and keep a job, while also helping to make sure that health care in Maryland is environmentally friendly."

"This Partnership is funded with recovery dollars and it is an investment in our future � a future in which our state and nation will become more energy efficient and independent and one that will create new, green jobs that will help grow our economy," adds Sen. Cardin.

H-CAP, Inc. will partner with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in Maryland as well as Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), a coalition that promotes environmentally-friendly healthcare practices, to train approximately 3,000 job seekers. The project will also develop new curricula that will cover the role of environmental service workers in green healthcare, the development of cross-industry green jobs and green career pathways for entry-level workers.

Source: Senator Barbara Mikulski
Writer: Walaika Haskins

County Executive John R. Leopold today announced that four projects have been granted tax-exempt Stimulus Recovery Zone Facility Bonds totaling more than $32 million that will generate more than 1,700 new jobs.

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has committed $650,000 in Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program (NBW) loans to two projects: a restaurant in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore City and a mixed-use building in Olde Towne Gaithersburg that will house a restaurant and offices for several businesses.

"Small businesses represent 98 percent of the State's employers. They are the backbone of our economy, and we are committed to ensuring that small businesses in Maryland remain strong and stable," says Gov. Martin O'Malley. "These businesses will create job opportunities in their communities and contribute to Maryland's prosperity."

DHCD provided $400,000 in NBW assistance to Langermann's Caf�, leveraging $650,000 for the project. Langermann's Caf� will be a moderately priced, 165-seat bistro located at Can Company in the historic Canton neighborhood of Baltimore City. The restaurant's menu will feature items from the shores and farmlands of the American Southeast. Langermann's Caf� will fill a previously vacant 5,300 square foot main floor and 1,800 square foot mezzanine in the Can Company. The Caf� will create an estimated 85 new jobs.

A four-story restaurant/office building in Olde Towne Gaithersburg received $250,000 through NBW, helping the project leverage over $2.25 million. The building will be home to the Slice of Olde Towne restaurant and provide offices for a nonprofit organization, a title company, and a commercial real estate brokerage. Eight new job positions will be created.

"Neighborhood BusinessWorks has been a great program for creating and expanding small businesses in Maryland," says Department of Housing and Community Development Sec. Raymond A. Skinner. "Not only do these businesses create jobs and economic growth, but they also serve as great catalysts for other community revitalization investments that enhance our cities and towns."

NBW is the state's premiere loan program for financing businesses that provide amenities and services that benefit their surrounding neighborhoods. Other recent projects have included a bike store, a veterinary office, a clayworks studio and a mixed-use project that included affordable housing for public school teachers. NBW provides flexible gap financing in the form of below-market interest rate loans to small businesses and nonprofit organizations locating or expanding in locally designated neighborhood revitalization areas. Financing ranges from $25,000 to $500,000 for up to 50 percent of a project's total cost. Since the start of the O'Malley-Brown Administration, NBW has provided over $7.3 million to 31 projects that have created 208 jobs.

The NBW program also supports community revitalization and economic development under Governor O'Malley's Smart, Green & Growing initiative. Smart, Green & Growing is a multi-agency, statewide initiative launched by Governor Martin O'Malley to help Maryland achieve a more sustainable future by linking community revitalization, transportation improvements, economic development, smart growth and environmental restoration efforts. For more information, please log on to: www.green.maryland.gov.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development works with partners to finance housing opportunities and revitalize great places for Maryland citizens to live, work and prosper. To learn more about DHCD's small business assistance and community revitalization programs, visit www.mdhousing.org.

News updates also are available by following DHCD on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: Department of Housing and Community Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Northrop Grumman officially opened its new Northrop Grumman Innovation Institute in Linthicum last week. The center will serve as the focal point for the sector's advanced technology development activities.

The five-story, 156,000 square foot leased office building is located on West Nursery Road in the West*Quest Technology Park where Northrop Grumman already maintains the headquarters for its Electronic Systems sector. The new facility is home to more than 450 current engineers, scientists and support personnel who had previously been housed in several nearby leased and company-owned buildings.

"From the ground up, this new facility � with its modular office concepts, and innovative program strategy and planning areas � was designed to help foster a collaborative employee work environment conducive to the timely development of innovative global defense electronics technologies," says James F. Pitts, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, in a statement. "We're confident the end result of the corporation's investment in this new facility will be the generation of myriad exciting new technologies and solutions for our defense and commercial customers."

Designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly, the building has received the nationally-recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) certification. The new facility, which is situated on a 9.5 acre parcel on West Nursery Road, is owned by Columbia, Md.-based Corporate Office Properties Trust. Construction was managed by Manekin Construction LLC also of Columbia.

Source: Northrop Grumman
Writer: Walaika Haskins